Spring spreader



l April 14, 1925. 1,533,993

G. L. E. KLINGBEIL SPRING SPREADER In v j wu anto@ MW 1M,

' April 14, 1925.

G. l.. E. KLINGBEIL SPRING SPREADER Filed March IZ, 1924 3 sheets-sheet 2 MM #MM @Hoz/Mew Patented Apr. 14, 192,5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GOTTLIEB-I. E. KLINGBEIL, 0F OMAHA, NEBRASKA, AssIGNOR, '110 GENTRAL TRADING GOMBANY, QF DOVER, DELAWARE.

l SFRING SPREADER.

Application fue@ ,Mami ,17, 1924. serial No. 699,756.

To all whom. t may concern:

Be it known that GoT'rLrnB L. E. KLING BEIL, citizen of the United States, of Omaha, Nebraska, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Spreaders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring spreaders for use in separating the leaves of vehicle springs, and more particularly for use in separating the leaves of the springs of automobiles to permit of the insertion of lubricant therebetween. It is a primary object of the invention to provide a device of the character indicated which will be ofsimple and inexpensive construction, may be easily handled and will sufficiently serve the end sought, even though used upon cars of varying make, having springs of varying width and with leaves of varying thickness.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will Vbe set forth in the detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a spring spreader constructed in laccordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view from one end thereof.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the wedges hereinafter described.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the shims hereinafter described.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view.

Fig. 6 is a view from the other end spring spreader.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through one of the wedge carrying blocks.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a substitute cap plate hereinafter described.

Fig. 9 is a face view of one of the wedge carrying blocks of a modified form of spring spreader illustrating a plurality of simultaneously adjustable shims for separating the wedges from each other..

Fig. 10 is alperspective view of one of the `wedges used with the structure of Fig. 9.

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view through the structure of Figure 9.

Fig. 12 is a side view of one of the wedge shims. v v

Fig.` 13 is a view like Fig. 1l but illus of the trating a modified form` of shim and wedge. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the wedge used in conjunction with the structure of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the wedge shim used in conjunction with Fig. 13.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

rIhe spring spreader of the present invention comprises wedge carrying blocks 5 and 6. Bolts 7 and-8 are threaded throughout the major portions of their length and are provided with angular heads 9 and 10. The angular head 10 of the bolt 8 is adapted to have a seating in an angular recess 11 formed in the block 5, whereby the bolt is held against turning with relation to the said block. The other end of the block 5 is provided with an arcuate slot 11a, the inner portion of which is of a size to receive the bolt 7 and the outer portion of which is somewhat wider and receives the angular headv 9 of the bolt 7 the latter portion of theslot being designated 12a.` By virtue of this construction the block may be swung out of engagement with the bolt 7 during the time that the device is being engaged about a spring and yet when the block is swung into engagement with the bolt 7, said bolt will be held against turning with relation to said block.

The block 6 is free to slide along the bolts 7 and 8, and is forced along said bolts and toward the block 5 by means of nuts 12 and 18 which constitute the hubs of gear wheels 14 and 15. Motion is imparted to these wheels by a pinion 16 meshing with both of them, said pinion being integral with an angular shank 16a to which a socket wrench, or other tool, may be applied for the purpose of imparting rotation to the pinion and consequently imparting movement to the gear wheels and travel to block 6. Pinion 16 and gear wheels 14 and 15 are mounted between plates 17 and 18. The whole unit consisting of said plates, pinions, and gear wheels move together as a unit forcing the block 6 toward block 5, the plates being held in proper relation to each otherby studs 19. Each of the wedge carrying blocks 5 and 6 has an elongated` opening 20 formed therethrough. Ribs 21 project inwardly from the sides of said opening and extend nearly the full length of said opening, but terminate a little short of one end of said opening.

These ribsy slidably receive thewedges `22.

3 and it will be noted that they have notches 23, formed invtheir edges, which notches receive the ribs 21. Shims .Qethavenotches 24 formed in their edges for the reception of the ribs. By using shims of various thicknesses the wedges may be spaced apartpthe proper distance to enter between the leaves of springs, even though the leaves of one springfmay be thicker than the leaves of another spring; IThe wedges 'and shims are mounted upon the ribs L1 by slipping them into place through the space 25 lleft at one end of the ribs, and ajfterthe several wedges and shims have been placed in positiom'the space .is closed by l inserting a `filling plate QGt'herein, vsaid plate being held ing/place by a screw Q7. It desired a light leaf spring 28 maybe interposed between the banks of wedges and one end of the openings 20, 'whereby the banks o't wedges as a 'whole Hwilll be floati'n'gly mounted, and 'thus be tothe leavesA of the spring being operated upon, where they may function most etliciently. y

YIn 8 I have illustrated a substitute cap plate 5, which may `be lused in lieu "of the block 5 where'the space between the side of the spring and the body of the automobile is not suflicient to vpermit of the Vvinsertion of the relatively thick block 5L In such case as that the thin plate 5"L is substituted' for the block 5 and the wedges carried by the block 6, are relied upon, alone`,`to spread the Yleaves of the spring.`

In operation the block 6 is retracted or moved away from the block 5'the' desired vdistance by turning the rshank 16 of `the pinion 1G. Then the block'o is swung with bolt 8 as its pivot to disengage slot l1 Jfrom 'bolt 7.v After' the device has been fitted over 'a' spring the block 5 is swung back to the position illustrated in Fig. 1' and the shank 1'51 is turned by means of a socketwrench or other tool to rotate the nuts 12 and' 13 l and to move the jblock `6 forcibly toward block 5. `This results in forcing the ybanks of'jwedges in vbetween Vthe leaves 'ofthe spring and separatessaid leaves enough soV that 'lubricant 'may be inserted therebetween.

` It is'a well known fact thatmost'of'the' squeak vand 'much of the lhard riding of au-V tomobiles is due tothe lack of efficient lubrivcati-on"et the leavesof`tlie spring.' These objectionable( features may be readily cured by the 'use' Ior" "the" tool illustrated and 'described herein.

' ICH-Figs. 9 to 15 I have illustrated simultaneously' adjustable shms ,30, 30a. The

shims 80 are of tapered orwedge shapek and are provided with openings 31 in their outer ends through which a leg 32 of an L-shaped member passes. The tapered portions of the v e i 'shiinsg30-operate in inclined-grooves 38 ot These' wedges are best illustrated in Fig.

the wedges 34. By screwing thumb-nut B5 upon a threaded portion 36 of the other leg 37T of. the. L-shaped ffmembenad; Lshaped member..willbe drawn through guides 38 "The other prong 30c engagesin an inclined channel 48? formed inthe tail 44L-of-the wedgeft.

The shims 30a are provided `with openings 30e for the reception ofthe leg 32 'of an L-shaped member like-that"illustrated Lin y l Fig. 9( adapted to seek'that position with relation It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to they precise Jconstruction -set forth, but that itincldes within its purview whatever changes 'come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

"Having described my -inventiolli-what I claim is':

1. A -tool of thecharacter .describedcomprising a Ipair l.of blocks,`a ,bank 'of wedges 'carried by one of saidblocks, threaded bolts on opposite .sides y.ot'said blocks, threaded .means @asesina Said .bolts .for mO'v-ingthem forciblyV together, iiiieans for operating such threaded means simultaneously, one of said blocks being slotted for the reception .of one of' said blolts, said slot being engaged Awith thebolt by sivingingthe bleek upon' the axis -blacks a rinea'eneage'd with both if Said gear wheels niean's'carried, by said pinion forthe reception 'of an'eperatng tool.

A ,struc'ti'lre-@S recited nlclaim 2 in .Combination with" means 4fr floatngly .manettes banks 0f Wedges@ Said blkS- 4. 'A 'device the character ,described comprising a pair of blocks, each having an elongated'opening formed therein, a plurality ot wedges in'eacli of said blocks, means for 'floatingly niounting'said wedges with respectto the block by'vvhich theyA are carried, gear 'wheelshaving threadedA hubs,

bolts `upon which said gear vwheels are threaded, said boltshaving angular portions engaged in one of said blocks and a pinion meshing with said gear wheels and having a part adapted to receive an operat ing tool said gear wheels acting against the other of said blocks.

A tool of the character described comprising a pair ot blocks each having an elongated opening therein, a series of wedges floatingly mounted in each or' said openings, a pair of threaded bolts having angular ends engaged in one of said blocks, the engagement between one end of the last named block and one of said bolts being a detachable engagement, a pair of face plates, a pair of gear wheels and a pinion between said face plates, said pinion meshing with said gear wheels, and said gear wheels being threaded upon said bolts and an operating member upon said pinion, whereby rotation of the pinion may rotate the gear wheels to cause said gear wheels and plates to traverse the bolts and force one of said blocks toward the other.

6. The combination with a body adapted to embrace a vehicle spring and a plurality of wedges of a plurality of tapered shims alternating with said wedges and means for moving all of said shims in unison to cause them to exert a uniform separating action upon the wedges.

7. The combination with a body adapted to embrace a Vehicle spring and a plurality of wedges o'lf a plurality of tapered shims alternating with said wedges, a member engaged with all of said shims to move them in unison, and threaded means for adjusting said member.

8. The combination with a plurality of wedges of a plurality of tapered shims alternatinng with said wedges, saidi shims having a igned openings formed therethrough, an L-shaped member, one leg of which passes through said openings and the other leg of which has a threaded portion, and a threaded member engaged with said threaded portion.

ln testimony whereof he aliXes his signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GOTTLIEB L. E. KLINGBEIL.

itnesses ROSE S. FRANKEL, JNO. N. CRAWFORD. 

